Tue. Jul. 29- HOUSTON / MOSCOW-Russia

Board Singapore Airlines flight to Russia this evening departing Houston at 11.45 PM. The Russian Federation occupies most of Eastern Europe and north Asia, stretching from the Baltic Sea in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east, and from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Black Sea and the Caucasus in the south.

Wed. Jul. 30- MOSCOW - NOVOSOBIRSK

Arrive Moscow at 8.05 PM, the largest city in Russia, first mentioned in chronicles in 1147. Moscow has always played the most important part in Russian history. Even when the capital was moved to St. Petersburg, in 1712, Moscow was considered to be the second capital of Russia . Connect with flight to Novosibirsk, your sight for eclipse viewing.

Thu. Jul. 31- ARRIVE NOVOSOBIRSK

Arrive in Novosibirsk early this morning, the third largest city in Russia after Moscow and St. Petersburg, situated middle of Russia. The City lies on both banks of the Ob River and is popularly known as the Russian Chicago. Meeting assistance and transfer to Sosnovy Bor Hotel. Afternoon tour the city visiting the Old Russian Churches, the Botanical Garden, shopping area and the river front. Enjoy a special dinner at a local restaurant. D

Sat. Aug. 02- TOURING

Breakfast will be at the hotel. You will visit Akademgorodok roaming through the woody areas and visiting the institutes. Continue to the geological and locomotives museums. Enjoy lunch at the House of Scientists. Later visit the Museum of the Sun (an individual's idiosyncratic museum, cultural rather than scientific).

Sun. Aug. 03- TOURING AND IRKUTSK

Breakfast will be at the hotel. Ever since people inhabiting the boundless woods behind the Ural Mountains that were first mentioned in the ancient chronicles, Siberia has been an attraction to numerous travelers, researchers and scientists. A huge territory from the Urals to the Amur River, 7 thousand kilometers from the west to the east and 3.5 thousand kilometers from the north to the south - is Siberia. The word "Siberia" means Sleeping land in the Tatar language.

Irkutsk is called a "treasure house" of the spiritual culture of Siberia. Founded in 1661 by the Cossack Yakov Pohabov, probably the only city of Siberia having preserved its historic character- old time wooden houses built without a nail, decorated with skillful carving harmonize with the splendid stone buildings of Siberian architecture. There are about 700 monuments of history and culture in Irkutsk. Visit the most interesting ones in the central part of the city: Spasskaya (Savior) Church, Epiphany Cathedral, Polish Roman Catholic Church, monument to the explorers of Siberia, the Okhlopkov Drama Theater, Museum of Baikal navigation etc. This evening attend concert of Russian Classical music at Decembrists museum. BL

Mon. Aug. 04 - LAKE BAIKAL

Breakfast at hotel. Lake Baikal, the "Sacred Sea" of Siberia, is situated only 70 kilometers away from Irkutsk, the largest and deepest lake in the world. It has 23 % of the world's reserves of fresh water. In 1996 Lake Baikal was declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Visit the Taltsy wooden architecture open air museum, Angara River, cable car observation point, Lake Baikal Museum with Iroa and fauna of the lake, St. Nicholas Church XVIII century. Lunch at Listvyanka settlement, fish market and enjoy a one hour boat ride on Lake Baikal. BL

Tue. Aug. 05- IRTUTSK/ MOSCOW / HOUSTON

Breakfast at the hotel. Time free until your transfer to the airport to board your flight departing for Moscow and onward connection to Houston. Arrive Houston at 9.25 PM.